The internship debate

Just found out I was in the Universe Tuesday: "Paid vs. unpaid: The internship debate." It doesn't look like they used my Excel file with the list of BYU majors that require internships, but the article is there.

Opening up an old hurt: the importance of learning from your mistakes

"Sports reporters know how to make deadlines," my Deseret News editor commented last week.

At the time, I was proud. Today, as I attempt to track down where in the Web universe my old sports articles have ended up, I remembered how truly terrible I was at making deadlines those first two months. I have an excuse- I didn't own a laptop then and it took me that long to find out the HBLL lent laptops to students for free- but I bet my tendency to be late had something to do with the less-than-peachy relationship I first had with my Universe editor and the women's basketball SID (Sports Information Director). I can't believe it took me this long to figure that out, but there it is. And with it returns the unhappy memory of my editor taking me aside one day and telling me I wasn't meeting expectations. I knew I could be better at making deadlines, but up to that point none of my editors had ever complained. I thought they understood my laptop limitations (and I did get much better at making my deadline after I started bringing the HBLL's laptops to the court with me), but I had no idea they also thought my writing was lacking.

Why didn't you tell me? I want to ask. Why didn't you give me things to work on and tell me where I was failing? When I asked what I needed to do better, you said something about my personality maybe not being a good fit for reporting- all I heard was, everything you have done up to now is second-rate, and you will never be able to fix it.

My only consolation that day was a good friend who was there when I needed her, and the knowledge that if I had listened every time somebody told me, you can't do this, I would not be where I am today.

I have many weaknesses. Two in particular keep coming to mind as I sit here writing this: 1) I don't have a very thick skin. I hope to change that, bit by bit, in the coming years. 2) I am very easily distracted. Look at all the time I just wasted getting this little chip off my shoulder when I should have been trying to write an advance for Merrill Osmond's pioneer pageant coming up in July! (I've been putting it off because I'm lacking information I can only get in the interview scheduled for next week, but I can at least look over what I do have again and see if I can prepare any more for it.)

One last thought: I do learn from my mistakes. I'm excellent at it because I'm so well practiced.

And I know how to make deadlines.

Men's role in the Egyptian feminist movement

David Kirkpatrick describes the women's rights issues in Egypt in this January New York Times article. Mozn Hassan, the executive director of Nazra for Feminist Studies, a group which is protesting for women's rights, expressed her frustration that the participants in a past march had to be protected by men. Hassan may be right to worry that calling on men to protect them reinforces the strong patriarchy the group is trying to temper, but I don't think she should limit her resources by not allowing men to help the group. I think it's great that there's a group of men working with the women, and Hassan needs that support or her goal of stopping the abuse of women (traditionally by men in the Egyptian military) will be much more difficult, and longer in coming. Many of the men are husbands and fathers concerned for the welfare of their wives and daughters. I say, good for them! Egypt needs them!

We are the champions!

BYU wins the WCC championship title 78-66, earning spot in NCAA Tournament by Hailey Nickell

Now that I'm no longer the women's basketball reporter, I can say this: I'm so excited for the BYU women's basketball team!

Do electronic billboards distract you?

Two bills from both sides of the state legislature, HB 87 and SB 136, would effectively free billboards from city and county government.

Senate bill would deregulate electronic billboards
Pending legislation frustrates Salt Lake City

Utah County Commission to repay $52M to UTA, speeding FrontRunner South construction

The FrontRunner line to Provo may open in December thanks to a $52M bonds deal the Utah County Commission just authorized.

Family, friends mourn loss of Powell children

Family, friends mourn loss of Powell children
Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, died in the tragedy

I first heard the news yesterday morning when I picked up the newspaper. When I arrived at my Advanced Print Reporting class, Professor Campbell announced that we were going to "swarm" the story - meaning we were going to cover this breaking news with an article for the Universe. I volunteered to write, others volunteered to interview different people, and we saw what we could accomplish in an hour. My classmate Rebecca finished writing the story when I had to go to work. She ended up writing most of it.

Sad news; good learning experience.